November 2018 premises update

This month's update includes our new premises support group and the fact we will be making contact with practices who are flagged to us as being in need of urgent assistance.

LMC support with premises Issues

NHS England/CCGs have a duty to consult with the LMC over issues that impact General Practice, including premises/estates issues. We have set up a GP Premises Liaison Group with Surrey & Sussex LMCs and Barking & Havering LMCs to meet regularly with NHS England London Region, CHP and NHSPS to discuss strategic, policy and operational issues. We are aware that there are ongoing issues where practices need individual support and we have agreed with NHS England London/CCGs, CHP and NHSPS that they should encourage you to contact GP support for confidential assistance and advice before further action is taken, including legal action. They may also confidentially highlight to GP support out of meetings where a practice may need urgent individual assistance; this may result in you receiving a call from one of our GP Support team. Please contact us if you have any concerns regarding this.  We are aware that practices are under significant stress and would like to reassure you that our GP support team is here to assist. 

Occupancy Agreement Letters

Wes are aware that NHSPS are sending practices Occupancy Agreement Letters and Occupancy Change Notices for completion and return. Please note these have not been agreed with the GPC or LMCs.  These documents should be treated with extreme caution, and professional advice sought from an appropriately qualified legal adviser with healthcare/general Practice knowledge and experience before you sign anything. You are under no obligation to sign the agreement if you do not agree to its terms.

London policy for financial assistance with service charges and premises running costs

NHS England London region and London CCGs have developed a policy with London LMCs for accessing financial support for service charges and premises running costs.  Please contact GP support on gpsupport@lmc.org.uk for more information.  Please note, there is a gateway with eligibility criteria including: full disclosure of income and expenditure on an open book and annual basis, and production of an action plan to demonstrate how you will optimise your income and reduce expenditure over the next 12 months.

Transitional funding

Such arrangements should only be entered into where you are entirely satisfied that when the transitional period ends you are not inadvertently left having to meet increased costs without the benefit of increased funding. In the view of the BMA and LLMCs, transitional arrangements should be avoided. More permanent solutions which align a practice’s funding to their costs are needed.

Service charges

Practices should only make payments to the extent that they are both satisfied as to the legal basis upon which they are payable and their accuracy, and set aside/accrue funds while you resolve your concerns. We are aware that this issue is causing practices significant stress.  You can access support through gpsupport@lmc.org.uk.  If NHSPS take action to enforce charges against you please contact gpsupport@lmc.org.uk immediately; you may also wish to contact the GPC on gpcpremises@bma.org.uk.

 

Last updated : 21 May 2019

 

Medical records one-off payment (19 Jul 2017)

Practices should have received a £250 payment alongside their contractual payment by the end of June 2017. If you have not received this payment or you have any queries relating...
Read more »

Violent patients – a step-by-step guide to safeguarding staff (19 Jul 2017)

After a mental health inpatient made a death threat against a GP in a London practice. Londonwide LMCs' medical director Dr Vicky Weeks shares the advice she gave the team....
Read more »

Premises update July 2017 (18 Jul 2017)

This month’s update include advice on:  London policy for accessing financial support for service charges and premises running costs How to plan a premises relocation Lease negotiations Transitional funding...
Read more »

Vacancies on BMA committees (18 Jul 2017)

There are vacancies on the following:   Armed forces committee Civil and public services committee Private practice committee Forensic and secure environments committee Committee of medical managers  ...
Read more »

Flu campaign preparation and best practice (18 Jul 2017)

Ellie Roberts, a practice manager on secondment to Londonwide LMCs, looks at why practices need to bite the bullet and get started on their flu campaign now. The flu campaign...
Read more »

Ballot on willingness to consider closing lists as industrial action (18 Jul 2017)

At May’s LMC conference the following motion by Tower Hamlets LMC was passed: That conference believes that the GP Forward View is failing to deliver the resources necessary to sustain...
Read more »

Locum and salaried GP handbooks (18 Jul 2017)

The locum GP handbook provides advice and guidance on all aspects of locum work, including on starting out as a locum, setting up as a business and establishing a contract for...
Read more »

New primary-secondary care interface guidance (18 Jul 2017)

GPC (England) has produced new guidance on the interface between primary and secondary care in collaboration with NHS England, NHS Improvement, NHS Clinical Commissioners, Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal...
Read more »

CCG proposals for GPs to restrict access to OTC prescriptions (18 Jul 2017)

This page has been updated to remove advice which stated schemes proposed by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which involve GPs assessing patients’ ability to pay for over-the-counter medicines and asking...
Read more »

What they said about the GP Essential Toolkit conference (05 Jul 2017)

Our first Essential Toolkit for GPs on Tuesday 4 July, 2017 was a huge success. See some of the top tweets from speakers and attendees below: ...
Read more »
Next Page »
« Previous Page